Advent is an English word derived from the Latin advenio meaning to come. It is a noun describing an expected or anticipated arrival. Advent has come to be known as a season of devotion looking back at the coming of the Savior in his incarnation and an anticipation of his return in judgment. Traditionally Advent begins on the feast day of St. Andrew, November 30th, or the Lord’s day that is closest to that day and runs the four Sundays culminating in the feast of Christmas.
American modern tradition has turned this time of year into one of the busiest months of our calendar. We spend a great deal of time hurriedly shopping for clothes, food, and gifts while keeping tabs on our busy calendars marked with days of parties and gatherings. A modern protestant Christmas ethic of the commercial has replaced a historical catholic ethic of a valued Little Pascha – a time of fasting, prayer, confession and reconciliation. In the past this was a time of year when the church slowed down to contemplate their lives in reflection upon the gospel taking stock of the inventory of our hearts and lifting their minds and hearts to the glory of Christ in his incarnation and his promised return. There are many ways to slow down a run away train, and here I would suggest switching tracks. This week we will begin on the track of historical perspective.
The Scriptures are clear. They tell us of the certainty of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth who is the Christ the Son of the Living God. The Old Testament Prophets point the way and the New Testament writers give us the historical reality. It is the clarity of the Old Testament that enabled Simeon to wait with anticipation (Lk.2:25-32) and the clarity of the New Testament that made many wise unto salvation through the preaching of the apostles about the truthfulness of the person and work of Jesus Christ. However, the Scriptures do not give us the exact date of his birth.
The early patristic writers were varied in their views of the exact date of the birth of Jesus. Basil of Caesarea believed that he was born on November 20th in 4 B.C. Clement of Alexandria thought him to be born on November 17th in 3 B.C. John Chrysostom believed that since the shepherds were in the fields at night when Christ was born it must have been in the spring or summer. Athanasius believed similarily and gave the date May 20th. Cyril of Jerusalem dated his birth in Bethlehem as April 19th, and Ambrose of Milan dated it March 25th. Therefore from the writings of those closest to the time of Christ’s life following the apostles there is given us little clarity as to the date of Christ’s birth.
In 354 the leaders of the church in Rome officially began to observe December 25th as the date of Christ’s birth. In pagan Rome there were many feasts days and in December was the feast day of Saturnalia. Saturnalia began on December 17th and was a week long festival commemorating the dedication of the temple to the sun god Saturn. It was a public festival throughout Rome and known for its revelry. The Roman poet Catullus described the feast of Saturnalia as a celebration, time to visit friends and exchange gifts such as wax candles and figurines. Therefore it seems the early Christians in Rome exchanged the worship of the coming of the son god for the worship of the Son of God in his coming. History seems to record that the church was already celebrating the incarnation of Jesus Christ as the Philocalian Calendar (336) marked Christmas Day as a tradition prior to the church in Rome leading in this way in 354.
Though there was no clarity as to the exact date of Christ’s birth the early church was reforming the practices of their pagan ancestors and their own lives by exchanging the worship of the creation for the worship of the Creator and Redeemer. Those pagans who were being converted to Christianity could not celebrate in festivals with a clear conscience the gods they had once worshiped. However, in the midst of that void in the winter the Son of God shown in their hearts that they may replace their old with the new having made all things new. Christ, the Living God, replaced the idols they once worshiped. It is from this early church tradition that Christmas dates and customs came together into a season of Advent. As we now celebrate a period of four weeks beginning in late November leading up the Christmas festival when we celebrate our Lord’s appearing. It is during this season that the church must like Simeon be waiting in the Spirit with anticipation of his coming again to make all things new while we worship in the Spirit taking stock of the reason of his first appearing through sober reflection around his Word and prayer.
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